Our Phili-Pam

Hi Philip. I think that Tribute by St Austell brewery is definitely my favourite.

Oh I do like Tribute. Not always available. Thank you, Mick.

We all have our favourites and can be really cheered by finding them. My preferred coffee isn't the cheapest or the most expensive. I found I really liked my supermarket cafe coffee and cheekily asked what it was and I've been drinking that brand ever since. Happiness is made up of small joys like that. Often we can't control the big stuff, both happy or sad but we can seek out small things and appreciate when we find them.

It's a good close second to Abbot; IMHO of course. Abbot is £4 or so a pint in Warwickshire. I saw it recently for £1.99 a pint in Spoons. I encourage Spoons because some of my ISA shares are in them. Down 59.07% right now. Hey-ho, another day in life. Or in our existence on this spherical rock.

Good morning all, With my friends who are dreading the heat of these days in my mind, a reminder that the clock is ticking quite well on its journey through August. Whilst weather patterns affect bird migration, a clear indication that summer is coming to an end is this library picture of swifts. I watched from our snug, swifts congregating on a roof aerial a couple of times at the beginning of August - most depart between the 8th & 12th. I've seen more swifts this year than for a few past years, but none about now. A few do sometimes linger, but the exception to the rule. One of my account colleagues was a dedicated twitcher. Wrote papers on the subject. My Pam knew her birds & bird song. I'm in the kindergarten on the subject of birds. So there we are, Helen. The swifts have flown, it will soon be scrape the screen season. Best wishes all.

If you're scraping swifts off your screen, I think you're probably driving too fast Philip. High pressure in the summer creates hot weather and drought but in winter it generates severe cold and drought. I don't know if birds can make predictions.

Hi Helen, I'm waving again. I've been & enjoyed mutton chops at my local Asiana restaurant. Absolutely umtigabogoingigingbong.

And I had roast shoulder of lamb and tomorrow it will be transformed into pie. Baaaaah.

Well, Helen, Shaun the sheep is going to the moon. So instead of a lamb buna, it will be lamb muna. I'm going!

Hi everyone, For all of the warts, the crime & antisocial behaviour, Coventry is no worse than anywhere else. In fact it's been fabulous for me today. A whole day out, with special permission from my puss. A pussout! Two inoculations this morning, at my local GPs. The last time in that room, I was with Pam, yet it was so nice. Then a tea at the Belgrade, before a long journey to Radford aboard the 16 to have my chirops done. What does a chiropodist do if it's not my chirops. Then to the Earl, for a late lunch that was scrumptious, along with a glass of Abbot to wash it down. Home now, a Friday evening well on its way. Gosh my memory’s going ballistic now. If my memories were made real, the smell & bustle of Pam, preparing supper, for our model railway guests. Lamb chops in a garlic butter souce, being slowly oven cooked before grilling, the bottles of Beaujolais at the ready. The advanced guard arriving, Mick, making sure that the railway was shipshape whilst his wife was helping Pam. Mick, trying one of his kit-built locos, before the real railway nuts arrived. Back to reality now, yet, I feel so well. A true sense of wellbeing. I'm actually glad of possibly a peaceful evening this evening, as tomorrow may be quite active here. Both Mick, long gone & my Pam, now not here, yet I'm so looking forward to tomorrow's shunt in the goods yard. Five of us. I'm posting this, not just for me, but for all of our members who are lonely, wishing for the repeat of times past. Life doesn't stand still. Another actress who has sadly died in the news today. Whatever you have or don't have, we all have one thing in common. Our forum. Love to you all.

So glad you've got ship shape chirops and will have a little gang round to enjoy the chuff chuffs. I will enjoy them vicariously - all the more if you post a few photos.

Hi Helen, Not so many chuff chuffs. We've moved the fiction date along to 1966+, so diesels are dominating, with only the odd puff of steam jangling around. It was simply big boys playing with their toys. I should not genderize, either. Two of my work friend ladies enjoyed coming, one who had her own railway. Both Bournemouth & Eastbourne had permanent exhibition quality model railways that the public could pay to go & sit in comfort & watch, both owned by ladies. That was in the fifties. The one in Bournemouth was my favourite, as that was mostly scratch-built. That's where I got the notion to have corridor connectors between the coaches. I was about ten at the time, but it made a huge impression on me. Just as with piano playing, ladies often have superior dexterity for fine detailing, just as Pam had for putting detailing in some of our buildings. I love your comments, thank you.

Morning, Philip. I've almost been on more steam trains than diesel ones, I'm surprised to discover. So to me they all chuff chuff. I'm more of a hobby train traveller than a serious one. If there's a mountain with a train on it, I want to go. I even got to do the train that runs up inside the Eiger. These days electric trains outnumber my older journeys. Just like Hornby. 1966 was a very fine year for starting things, though. On a serious note, I think that hobbies and imagination are an underappreciated source of mental health support. Finding the right hobby isn't easy but there's a lot of fun and friendships to be had sampling them. I was lucky while I was in Coventry that evening classes weren't too expensive as it allowed me to dabble. But I'd have bet you good money that I'd never get interested in history. Have a smashing day

I am another steam train fan, Philip and Helen, find it quite relaxing sitting on a heritage steam train, chuff chuffing through the countryside or even just sitting watching them in the station. Lovely way to spend a day.

Four live cam locations on the Severn Valley Railway. Live cam 1 Live cam 2 Live cam 3 Live cam 4